<div align="center">Detroit Falcons @ <span style='color:#150567'>Vancouver Whalers</span></div>
<div align="center">(Game #29)</div>
<div align="center"> 2-4 </div>
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<u><div align="center">Starting Lineups</div></u>

<div align="center"> Detroit Falcons </div>

<b><div align="center">Hans Moleman - Nucky Toohoots - Alex Berkis
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<div align="center">Prince Daniel James  - Jari Sinikka</div>
<div align="center">Jeremy Anderson</div></b>

<div align="center"> Vancouver Whalers </div>

<b><div align="center">Conklin Owen - Jon Ross - Ace Redding 
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<div align="center">Theodore Graham - Brynjar Tusk</div>
<div align="center">Maximilian Wehner</div></b>

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Brief Synopsis
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Two teams on opposite ends of the scoring face off in a game not quite Vancouver's style. The home team struggled early on and through the beginning of the second period. Giving up more shots than they would have hoped and allowing two early second period goals. Offensive defenseman Connor MacDonald scored a sliding goal in the middle part of the second period which ignited a scoring run that would put Vancouver on top for the rest of the game and would lead to the pulling of Falcon's Goaltender Jeremy Anderson.

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Game Summary
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Scoring has not been the forte of the Whalers this early season. Struggling to put more than two goals in the net in normal fashion. The Detroit Falcons have made it their job to light the lamp and outscore their opponents this season. Coming into the game with the Whalers the Falcons were hovering around scoring 3.5 goals per game. The Whalers have been a stalwart defensive team only allowing 2.89 goals per game. How would this play out in this clash between East and West?

The first period played much into the hands of the Whalers. Who were the more aggressive team and focused a lot on bodying the Falcons players off the puck and denying good chances. This worked as the Falcons did not score a goal in the first period. But the Whalers also failed to put a tally on the board. This hard hitting period was a harkening back to the old days of hockey where physicality ruled.

The second period was very much a fast, high scoring game like the Detroit Falcons have been used to playing. They struck early and frustrated young goaltender Max Wehner by hitting the twine and putting the Falcons up 2-0 with goals by Alex Kepka and the every interesting Viktor Nerokov. These goals seemed to put Vancouver in a deep hole but young offensive defenseman Connor MacDonald dug them out with a sliding goal that hit the back of the net. An acrobating play that made the Whalers dig deep and surge for a lead with goals by Ace Redding, Brynjar Tusk and OG Bobby. The youth of Vancouver showed what they have as they propelled the team to a 4-2 lead late in the 2nd period. Causing the Falcons to pull their goaltender Jeremy Anderson. Veteran SMJHL goaltender Sivy McSieve came in for the maligned Anderson.

The third period was a goaltender show. With the newly entered Sivy McSieve stopping every shot that came his way. But young German goaltender Wehner matched him shot for shot. As the game ended in a 4-2 win for the Vancouver Whalers, propelling them on top of the standings in the Western Division.

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Game Highlights In Photo
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<div align="center">1st Period</div>

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<div align="center">Vancouver's Ieuan Llewellyn and Detroit's Alec Derin go at it in the first period.</div>

<div align="center">2nd & 3rd Periods</div>

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<div align="center">Alex Kepka scores first goal of the game on a sloppy shot.</div>

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<div align="center">Connor MacDonald slides into the new as he scores after crashing the goal. Starting a Vancouver goal rush.</div>

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<div align="center">Detroit Goaltender Jeremy Anderson looking on after being pulled giving up 4 goals in the 2nd period.</div>

<div align="center">3rd Period</div>

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<div align="center">Vancouver Goaltender Maximilian Wehner celebrating after shutting out Detroit the rest of the game to seal a Whalers win.</div>

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Post-Game Interviews with Vancouver's Connor MacDonald and Adam Kaiser



Your goal in the second period seemed to be the spark for the Whalers. What do you think of your place on this team?

Connor MacDonald: It felt really good to get the team going and back into the game with us sitting down by 2. I saw an opening and took the shot. I can't claim to have done anything fancy out there, just want to get the puck to the net in one piece to generate opportunities. If it goes in, Bonus!

I mean I am a rookie coming into this season so I don't expect 1st line minutes by any stretch. The coaches and management know where I will fit best, and I will contribute to the line up where ever possible. I feel like I am a more offensively minded player so I try and play to my strengths. I want to give the team excuses to move me up the line up and put my out there during the big moments. I want to be that guy to help get those goals and wins we need.

Vancouver seems to be pulling out some clutch win this season. Do you feel like this team likes to live on the edge?

CM: I feel like we have a good solid system we play by. Being a team with so much new blood injected into the line up having some structure to our game to get everyone familiar to the pace of this level of hockey and learn how we each play is a good way to go about things. Could we use some more offense? Sure I totally believe we could, but I am expected to help generate that, so I need to step up more to help us reach that goal.

Were you overwhelmed at all with a player the caliber of Hans Moleman coming at you in this game?

CM:It's always hard playing against the more experienced players, but if I let that bog me down mentally then I will fall behind fast. Realistically I treat every player the same, and just tell myself to always out work them. It could be the top players or the 4th liners, doesn't matter, I'm playing 110% and driving the play if I can. No time to worry about names and numbers to much.

What are your goals for this SMJHL season?

CM: Two so far! Or you mean something else? Haha! Well, what it all boils down to is winning the cup. I'd love to be able to hoist the cup this year if possible and want to help the team to do so.

For personal goals? I Guess just grow as a player. Improve my skills, grow my game, and be a key contributor to my team. I'd love to challenge for Rookie of the Year, of course and am always watching the other top D men numbers as well. Like any player I have my eyes set on the SHL and although I may not be a 'household' name, I want to prove to teams I'm worth taking early in the draft.





  What are your goals in the SMJHL this season?

Adam Kaiser: I want to develop as much as possible this season. Id love to get 25 points, and be the guy who is relied on to quarterback our powerplay.
Vancouver seems to live on the edge in a lot of it's wins. Do you think that is part of this teams personality or would you want to change it? If we were at the bottom of the league I think it might be something we'd want to change, but we aren't. It's a tight race right now but we are second in our division. It would be nice to break away from the pack a little bit, but if it ain't broke don't fix it.

  The Detroit Falcons have a pretty deadly top line. Being a defender for the Whalers, what has been your impression of their top scorers in Hans Moleman and Nucky Tohoots?

AK: They've been hot so far this season for sure. I'm not gonna say it's all been luck so far but I will say that none of the Whalers defensemen are intimidated or play any differently when they're on the ice.

After a hard fought game like this, what is your favorite way to kick back?


AK: I'm pretty new to Vancouver but it's so nice to be able to go hang out by the ocean and just regroup. Some days this game is as hard on you mentally as it is physically. An hour or so watching the waves beat up against the rocks and I'm mentally back to 100%. Just unbelievably therapeutic.

Are you happy with the way your goaltending has played this season?

AK: Wehner had been a nice surprise. That's not saying we weren't confident in him but he's definitely blown everyone's starting expectations for a rookie out of the water and he's showing no signs of slowing down.

Links has a disappointing season so far, but he's the best tender in the league. He'll bounce back and when he does watch out. He's going to have the best snipers in the league pulling their hair out in no time.

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Three Stars



Ace Redding (VAN)
1 Goal, 1 Assist, 4 Hits, 22:18 Minutes Played



Connor MacDonald (VAN)
1 Goal, 1 Assist, 2 Hits, 18:30 Minutes Played</div>

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OG Bobby (VAN)
1 Goal. 1 Assist, 17:36 Minutes Played</div>